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The response and calibration of seismographs at Riverview College Observatory, New South Wales, 1909-1962

Citation

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Drake, L.A.,
1984.
The response and calibration of seismographs at Riverview College Observatory, New South Wales, 1909-1962.
BMR Journal of Australian Geology and Geophysics
9:4:313-316.
Bureau of Mineral Resources, Geology and Geophysics,
Canberra.

Abstract

Seismograms from Riverview College Observatory for 1909 to 1962 are a valuable record of seismic ground motion in the Sydney
region during that time, because the constants of the seismographs at Riverview were carefully and regularly determined. So
that the seismograms can be effectively used, this paper sets out where the constants of the seismographs for this period
can be found, how the response of the seismographs can be calculated from the values of the constants, and how the constants
themselves were determined. The constants from the Wiechert and Mainka seismographs are static magnification, period, damping
ratio, and solid friction. The constants for the Galitzin seismographs are galvanometer period, seismometer or pendulum period,
damping constant of the seismometer, and synchronous magnification. Simple formulae give the magnification and phase lead
of the respective seismographs in terms of the constants.